Arsenal manager Unai Emery must find a role for Mesut Ozil or sell him, says former Gunner Paul Merson

Arsenal manager Unai Emery must find a role for Mesut Ozil in his new system, or he may have to consider selling the German playmaker, Paul Merson has told talkSPORT.

After a tumultuous summer – which saw the midfielder end his international career following Germany’s shock World Cup exit and spark a racism row with the German FA (DFB) – Ozil’s return to his club for the new season has not been a smooth one.

Often criticised by fans for his attitude on the field, Ozil has largely been a bystander as the Gunners get to grips with the new approach of new boss Emery, and mysteriously sat out of the London derby against West Ham due to ‘illness’.

Emery must find a role for Ozil in his Arsenal team, says Merson

Ozil now faces a two-week break from action after quitting Germany, with manager Joachim Low recently revealing the 29-year-old has “closed the door” on any potential return.

But his future at Arsenal also appears uncertain.

The playmaker signed a new contract in February worth a reported £350,000-a-week and was also handed the club’s number ten shirt over the summer, but Merson believes the appointment of Emery has put a massive question mark over his role in the team.

And the former Gunners midfielder believes the new boss needs to find a way of getting the best out of ‘top player’ Ozil, or face the reality that he does fit in his newly-implemented system at the Emirates.